Post by fwp on Jan 13, 2010 8:46:41 GMT -5
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/81296712.html
ALBANY — When it comes to pro football’s return to Albany, it’s hard to know what to believe anymore.
Ten days ago saw the announcement of former South Georgia Wildcats vice president Will Carter being tapped as GM to lead the area’s new arena franchise, the Albany Panthers of the SIFL.
Of course, three days after that — and exactly a week ago today — prospective team owner Andre White and SIFL president Thom Hager abruptly ended their partnership, taking shots at each other on the way out as the 2010 SIFL season loomed less than three months away.
And now the latest? Well, you may want to sit down for this one.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed by both the city of Albany and Carter that the on-again, off-again, love-hate relationship between White and Hager has reached a resolution.
And now it’s back on again.
“Andre and I had an excellent conversation (after our falling out) and he basically apologized for all the inconvenience he caused me, the other owners and the league,” said Hager, who accused White last Tuesday of not paying his $15,000 membership fee like the other six league owners, not returning calls and messages for weeks and failing to show up at the SIFL’s winter meetings in the December — meetings that were attended by all the owners of the six member franchises. “Look, sometimes I say more than I should and get (carried away). But Andre and I have spoke, we’re now holding hands, singing ‘Kumbaya’ and I would say a deal is imminent. We’re about 85 percent there.”
Albany city manager Wes Smith confirmed that — despite sending a letter to White last week that was intended to nullify his contract with the city because White was no longer affiliated with the SIFL, which the city beforehand decided was the league it wanted in Albany — talks between the two sides were once again back on.
“We’ve been made to believe such discussions are ongoing,” Smith began, “but the substance of those discussions is not yet complete.”
Hager, who claimed last Tuesday the league already had another owner for the Panthers to replace White — which he identified as Patrick Campbell — confirmed to The Herald on Tuesday that Campbell is no longer a candidate. Hager added that he only needs the $15,000, one-time membership fee from White — which he added he “expects (today)” — and it should be “blue skies ahead.”
“By the end of the day (today), I should know whether the SIFL is playing Albany in 2010 or 2011 — but either way the SIFL is coming (to Southwest Georgia),” said Hager, whose league has six confirmed teams for the 2010 season, though Albany would make the seventh. “We’re behind the eight ball right now because this has taken so long to get settled, but we’ve made some great advances in the last couple of days.”
Attempts to contact White on Tuesday by The Herald were unsuccessful and messages left were not immediately returned.
Carter, however, said he had spoken with White as recently as Tuesday and was assured all systems were a go. After all, it was less than a week ago that Carter moved back to Albany for yet another job in arena football after being fired in May by the Wildcats.
And he was on the top of the list of those excited when he heard of the resolution between White and the SIFL.
“Basically, I see it as a disagreement between two businessmen who have now made amends, hugged and made up,” Carter said. “All I can do is everything I can to get this team ready to play. And as this deal gets done, I’ll be right there with a press conference to announce (Albany’s newest pro football team).”
ALBANY — When it comes to pro football’s return to Albany, it’s hard to know what to believe anymore.
Ten days ago saw the announcement of former South Georgia Wildcats vice president Will Carter being tapped as GM to lead the area’s new arena franchise, the Albany Panthers of the SIFL.
Of course, three days after that — and exactly a week ago today — prospective team owner Andre White and SIFL president Thom Hager abruptly ended their partnership, taking shots at each other on the way out as the 2010 SIFL season loomed less than three months away.
And now the latest? Well, you may want to sit down for this one.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed by both the city of Albany and Carter that the on-again, off-again, love-hate relationship between White and Hager has reached a resolution.
And now it’s back on again.
“Andre and I had an excellent conversation (after our falling out) and he basically apologized for all the inconvenience he caused me, the other owners and the league,” said Hager, who accused White last Tuesday of not paying his $15,000 membership fee like the other six league owners, not returning calls and messages for weeks and failing to show up at the SIFL’s winter meetings in the December — meetings that were attended by all the owners of the six member franchises. “Look, sometimes I say more than I should and get (carried away). But Andre and I have spoke, we’re now holding hands, singing ‘Kumbaya’ and I would say a deal is imminent. We’re about 85 percent there.”
Albany city manager Wes Smith confirmed that — despite sending a letter to White last week that was intended to nullify his contract with the city because White was no longer affiliated with the SIFL, which the city beforehand decided was the league it wanted in Albany — talks between the two sides were once again back on.
“We’ve been made to believe such discussions are ongoing,” Smith began, “but the substance of those discussions is not yet complete.”
Hager, who claimed last Tuesday the league already had another owner for the Panthers to replace White — which he identified as Patrick Campbell — confirmed to The Herald on Tuesday that Campbell is no longer a candidate. Hager added that he only needs the $15,000, one-time membership fee from White — which he added he “expects (today)” — and it should be “blue skies ahead.”
“By the end of the day (today), I should know whether the SIFL is playing Albany in 2010 or 2011 — but either way the SIFL is coming (to Southwest Georgia),” said Hager, whose league has six confirmed teams for the 2010 season, though Albany would make the seventh. “We’re behind the eight ball right now because this has taken so long to get settled, but we’ve made some great advances in the last couple of days.”
Attempts to contact White on Tuesday by The Herald were unsuccessful and messages left were not immediately returned.
Carter, however, said he had spoken with White as recently as Tuesday and was assured all systems were a go. After all, it was less than a week ago that Carter moved back to Albany for yet another job in arena football after being fired in May by the Wildcats.
And he was on the top of the list of those excited when he heard of the resolution between White and the SIFL.
“Basically, I see it as a disagreement between two businessmen who have now made amends, hugged and made up,” Carter said. “All I can do is everything I can to get this team ready to play. And as this deal gets done, I’ll be right there with a press conference to announce (Albany’s newest pro football team).”